Starting Over After Environmental Trauma

In August 2016, Baton Rouge, Louisiana, was inundated by 31 inches of rain during a 48-hour period. Entire communities were flooded. Many homes had six feet of water. People were awakened in the middle of the night with water rising around them. Once things began to settle, the emotional damage became apparent. Nemeth and Whittington 2012, outlined the following six stages of recovery from environmental trauma: 1) Shock, 2) Survival Mode, 3) Assessment of Basic Needs, 4) Awareness of Loss, 5) Susceptibility to Spin and Fraud, and 6) Resolution. Many flood victims, who presented for health care, were reporting the following symptoms: constant worry, irritability, tension, headaches, restlessness, sleep disturbance, sadness, and fatigue. These symptoms were anniversary reactions. Most likely, these individuals had been flooded in March 2016 and/or during Hurricane Katrina in 2005, not just in August 2016. People were still emotionally numb four months afterwards. As thinking in the shadow of feelings is often very hard to do, the need for psychotherapeutic intervention was apparent. People who attended these Emotional Resiliency workshops were given an opportunity to be heard, to share their feelings, and to learn effective coping mechanisms. The real strength of the workshops was, however, the opportunity for bonding. People who felt very alone came together and found strength in their common purpose. Psychological coping skills were enhanced and a deeper sense of spiritual awareness occurred. Creative drawings, relaxation exercises, and expressions of thankfulness allowed people to express their feelings and to move forward.